The word Fresher is a common term that is used most of the time in many FECA gatherings. From what has been posted...

The word Fresher is a common term that is used most of the time in many FECA gatherings. From what has been posted about Freshers Banquet, in previous posts, we can deduce that the word Fresher in FECA is of the same denotation with the "Fresher" of a University campus. For instance, a Fresher in the Universtiy is someone who is new in the University environment; he is someone who has just started his First year in the university. Usually, one's age is not a determinant of whether one is called a Fresher or not. But to a large extent, many of the people who are called Freshers in the University are people who are very young in appearance, like,  easy-to-guess type of people who are fresh from Secondary schools and Colleges. You could tell they are fresh because they look young and naive, and curiously scared to do things that older students would do such as approaching/talking to a lecturer, going out of their comfort zones, etc. In fact, they are most of the time, the typical triangular students (from class to hostel to the library, to the hostel, then back to class, and to the hostel, and the circle keeps going).

Having noted the above point, let's now look at the meaning of Fresher in FECA. A Fresher in FECA is someone that just started attending a FECA chapter. He or she is very new to FECA and needs to be given utmost care and shown love like a baby (this varies from individuals). 

Can? someone be an old member in one Chapter, and a Fresher in yet another chapter?

Most of the time, Freshers in FECA are being welcomed into the fellowship with the program called Freshers Welcome Banquet. Freshers Banquet (as it is often called), is a program that is designed to formally welcome young people into FECA. The program is usually a one day program and on that day, there would be a lot of activities that would feature, such as Word, Spoken Word, dance, drama, music presentation, talent show, mime, refreshments, giving of gifts to participants, and lots more. Freshers Banquet is usually done once in a year in FECA and the publicity is usually very violent.   

Freshers Banquet has drawn many people into FECA. Because the program is designed to attract young people, especially young people who are ready to enter the university and become Freshers. The program educates the young people on some of the salient points to note about choosing a career, choosing a course of study, time management, friendship on campus, the need to belong to a Christian gathering during their stay in the higher institution, how to make a First Class, how to avoid some of the pitfalls of the higher education like Carry-Over, relationship gone wrong, (with the opposite gender), family matters, feeding, etc. In Freshers Banquet, some Senior Members  would come around and share their FECA stories, or they can come and share their undergraduate experiences so that the young ones would learn and  be well equipped for the journey that faces them. 

Freshers in FECA do have a Forum called Freshers Forum. This Forum usually lasts for a short while, usually until the Freshers Day/Generation Day. When someone comes into a FECA chapter for the first time, he or she is usually welcomed and later introduced to the other Freshers. They thus form the Forum with a male and female head. In some places, these heads are called Generation Papae and Generation  Mamae. They usually have a Generation Coordinator, who is sometimes a serving Executive in the chapter. From time to time, there would be meetings amongst this set of Freshers, and they get to know each other more, visit each other, talk about themselves, become familiar with each other and bond. Bonding is the sole aim of a generation. It is what makes the Freshers unique. A generation that is bonded is the one that will last the test of time. When you see a generation that bonds very well, it is difficult to separate them even when they have all left the chapter and are married, even gone to different parts of the world. Because they are still knit in love for one another. This bonding is not only perculiar to Freshers, it applies to FECAites at all levels.